Nevada Preparing for 150th Birthday

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada's 150th birthday celebration is gaining steam, with the organizing committee hiring a public relations firm to coordinate events and commemorative medallions available for pre-order. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/15Cg9jl ) the sesquicentennial committee has hired the Glenn Group PR firm to raise funds and plan celebrations. Glenn Group will be paid $15,000 per month through the end of 2014, and will help coordinate the more than 150 events planned for the birthday. The committee also wants the firm to help meet its $2.5 million fundraising goal. Another fundraising effort — minting souvenir medallions — is already underway. Collectors can now pre-order the medallions by phone, and will eventually be able to order them online. The coins are expected to go on sale at state museums in November.